A good indication I've seen on the growth of Blu-Ray is through blockbuster.

2 Years ago, I asked one of the employees "When are you guys going to have a Blu-Ray section?"

"Not for awhile man. It's just not that popular and it's too expensive."

Today, when I go into the blockbuster they went from a few shelves to having about 20% of their shelf space for blu-rays. I always see people looking at the Blu-Ray sections too. And it pisses me off sometimes cause I want to rent the BD version just for it to be all rented out.

But indeed, despite this economic crisis, blu-ray or entertainment is still growing.

"Because I question the statistics? DVD was at it's peak 10 years ago, Blu-Ray is peaking right now."

You just proved his point in calling you stupid. lol Blu-Ray is only going up from here man, and you are blind not to see it. As if BD has "Peaked" and this is its high point, and it is only going to go down from here? Do you understand what peak is? Blu-Ray is climbing.

@ Sarcasm

Yeah, my local Hollywood video started with such a small Blu-Ray section at first, and it is now over 6 times the shelf space now about 20% of the store. The selection is growing because all new movies that release are out on DVD and Blu-Ray.

so you honestly believe DVD will remain the standard because it is still being widely used when it's passed its peak? BS. Blu-ray is now the standard, these figures reflect that since more people are moving on to the tech. I know it may be hard for you to take but DVD will become obsolete sooner rather than later. And how is the comparison silly? It shows how people are moving away from DVD and onto Blu-ray.

If anything, they should have already stopped making the players. Especially Sony who is a big supporter of the hd format. To move forward they must be willing to take risks. Why should sony continue to make players and support the old format when they really want to move forward? Let the other studios continue to support DVD as well as other mfg make players.

To truly cause a shift into the next gen format it has to start somewhere. Why not let that bold company be Sony? I always wondered if they really believe in the format enough to commit full force or if they themselves have reservations on whether or not it will succeed. As long as there are low budget studios making direct to video movies, there will be a need for DVD. The major push for adotion has to come from the studios with more clout. Sure it was enough to win the hddvd/blu battle but each one of those studios seems scared of letting go of DVD.

It has happened before in the music industry. There has to be the first one to completely cut off support for an older format in favor of a newer. Look at the first CD only release of Vanilla Ice (ugh...I know i know) yet it was a release that had no record or tape version of the album. It may have caused some to be put off because they had not gotten a cd player yet but it did have an impact on the adoption of the format.

You would think that a studio with as much backing as Sony would flat out start releasing their movies ONLY on bluray. It may piss off some people but it could spark the adoption of the format all the investors are wanting.

Good points some that I agree with. Time will tell lord vader, but I reckon we will probably see a moment where someone stops making DVD players to spawn an almost complete adoption to Blu-ray. It doesn't have to be SONY as they are not the only company whos best interets are with blu-ray. Infact, there are actually some companies still making VHS even though it is technically obsolete so one could argue DVD never took over... but that would be silly, just like its silly to think blu-ray will never lead the market. VHS didn't just stop being made when DVD came along it took time and was a gradual process. btw, I've never bought a blu-ray disc other than a ps3 game I'm not really a tech nut.

Interesting thought but what if the 360 was built with HD DVD in mind. Would blu-ray have won then? Ps3 had alot to do with the blu-ray winning the battle but if the 360 was already using HD DVD we might have just adopted it.

If the 360 had hddvd then we would not be having to swap discs or hear as many complaints about lack of space for game content.

Realistically, between the two for movies I feel blu would have still won. Simple fact is toshiba is not a content provider like sony is. the ace in the blu pocket is not only one of the major developers of the format but also a major studio backing the format. Sony has their hand in many cookie jars. Toshiba made a great product and I can't tell the visual difference between the two. Audibly there is a difference but you really have to have the right equipment to notice.

I still think MS should have kept the hddvd drives as replacements to the dvd in the 360. It may have been a failed format for movies but for games it would have pleased many a dev who complained about space limitations. Honestly, the lack of space is what is really hurting the 360 when it comes to games on the same level of the ps3. Power wise they are about equal but it really isnt about power. It is about the talent that uses that power. I can tell you I have seen some games on the genesis that should never have been possible and made the snes take notice. That isnt the power of the system but the talent of the programmers.

I don't think DVD will be around for much longer. And I didn't say Blu-Ray has peaked. I said it is peaking ie. it's climbing and will do so for the next years.

I think digital distribution will take over pretty soon. If you take Moore's law into account and look at how music and movies are being downloaded in a much greater extent than they are being bought on Blu-Ray this discussion becomes obsolete.

@Argento-Nox - Lets not ignore it instead. That's a perfect example. Blu-Ray won't have 7 years to overcome DVD. Digital distribution will have become much more accessible in much less than 7 years.

What current public/private infrastructure in N.A is good enough for HD streaming downloads on par with blu-ray? My country, Canada isn't going completely digital for TV broadcasting until 2011 (meaning we can expect several years of lag time after 2011 before HD TV becomes the norm). None of the major internet providers north of the border, currently has a DL speed fast enough to make HD streaming downloads a standard.

Some U.S internet providers have caps on how much you can download or a cap on the DL speed. The largest obstacle to U.S internet and TV providers is government regulations/restrictions on internet and digital TV speeds.

We're not talking about small mp3 files that can be downloaded on oldschool dial-up internet, but rather huge 10+ GB files. This isn't Korea or Japan where internet regulations for the internet are more lax, with dl speeds of roughly 10 MB/sec. Until some drastic changes are made on both sides of the border to truly usher in HD as a standard, blu-ray is here to stay.

Did you not take into consideration that even with new digital broadcasting standards, that the material in question might need a physical media to put some of the digital broadcasted shows and movies onto for the general consumers that still buy in the store?

My point is, blu-ray is the "current" future, whether or not it's a trojan horse or not, customers will decide. The PS2 afterall, was probably the biggest reason for the success of DVD as a format.

When I can click DWL then click PLAY then yeah I'll be interested. Other than that if it requires waiting then no thanks o.O Hard copy will do for now until instant dwl and play features become a reality :D

i only buy the new stuff on bluray. most older movies looked perfect when they got upgraded to DVD, so i won't be buying the super ultra limited director's exclusive repackaged collector's edition of godfather. not for part 3 anyway ;)

I dont remember the last time I bought a dvd.. I look at dvds and think.. "Wow they still have those???"" Like when your at a grocery store and they have dvds at the check out stand!! When that happens you know its on its way out..

If we were talking dept store, I have seen both types of movies at the check out lines of target, wal-mart. Electronic stores: Best buy, Fry's elec. Grocery: Safeway, Raley's, Bel-Air and a few others.

I am just saying your logic may be flawed. Having them up front is more of a convenience to the sale than a sign of a failure. You are there and see a new release along with some other mid-high profile flicks and can pick them up without having to leave the line.

HaHa.. What Store?? The Only store that has them remotely close is best buy... but at my best buy its near a HD Tv and Ps3 set up they have has your walking toward the check out with their least selling blu rays, they have in 3 packs.. but nothing at the check out stand like at all the grocery stores here

One factor of the DVD dropping 13% is because Piracy is on the rise. Blu-ray is currently unhacked so there would be no losses..... I just go on the PS3's internet and go to one of my sites with a whole range of movies ready to be streamed for free so I dont need to buy anything. Blu-ray is doing very well though...... Digital Distribution is at 0.1%.......... poor poor poor Microsoft.

It is more of a matter of cost. I think the current prices of the bd recorders and media are still above what people are willing to pay. I have seen blu-rip movies and software to do them. It isnt cost effective like dvd is.

Just to note...I do not condone piracy. Those who rip movies for personal gain are no better than those who rip games (saturn, dc, ps1/2, etc). All should be drawn and quartered.

Sorry to say but Bluray movies are easily hacked. Ripping them into a computer is a peace of cake. The only slight problem is that blank blurays are a lil expensive. You can get a 25G disc for about 5 bucks.